Background. Ebola virus (EBOV) infection causes a severe and often fatal disease. Despite the fact that more than 30 000 individuals have acquired Ebola virus disease (EVD), the medical and ...scientific community still does not have a clear understanding of the mechanisms by which EBOV causes such severe disease. Methods. In this study, 54 biomarkers in plasma samples serially collected from 7 patients with EVD were analyzed in an attempt to define the kinetics of inflammatory modulators. Two clinical disease groups were defined (moderate and severe) based on the need for clinical support. Biomarkers were evaluated for correlation with viremia and clinical disease in an effort to identify pathways that could be useful targets of therapeutic intervention. Results. Patients with severe disease had higher viremia than those with moderate disease. Several biomarkers of immune activation and control were significantly elevated in patients with moderate disease. A series of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly elevated in patients with severe disease. Conclusions. Biomarkers that were associated with severe EVD were proinflammatory and indicative of endothelial or coagulation cascade dysfunction, as has been seen historically in patients with fatal outcomes. In contrast, biomarkers that were associated with moderate EVD were suggestive of a strong interferon response and control of both innate and adaptive responses. Therefore, clinical interventions that modulate the phenotype and magnitude of immune activation may be beneficial in treating EVD.
Eubacterium species are a group of obligated anaerobic gram-positive bacilli that are recognized as commensals of the gastrointestinal tract flora. Cases of bacteremia mediated by Eubacterium are ...rare. This report describes a case of bacteremia caused by Eubacterium callanderi in an 82-year-old female with a history of a cecal perforation secondary to an obstructing sigmoid stricture. The results showed the utility of using whole genome sequencing to identify the causative agent and underlined the significance to identify anaerobic organisms in diagnostic microbiology practice and to perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing to guide therapy and enhance patient outcomes.
Of the estimated 1.4 million salmonella infections that occur each year in the United States, most are in children and the elderly and approximately 600 are fatal.
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Septicemia complicates at least 7 ...percent of the 40,000 culture-confirmed infections that are reported each year.
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Although antibiotics are not essential for the treatment of most cases of salmonellosis, they can be lifesaving in persons with invasive disease. Expanded-spectrum cephalosporins (e.g., ceftriaxone) are commonly used to treat salmonella infections in children because of their pharmacodynamic properties and the very low prevalence of resistance to these agents. Since 1991, salmonella species that are . . .
Background. Needleless intravascular catheter connector valves have been introduced into clinical practice to minimize the risk of needlestick injury. However, infection-control risks associated with ...these valves may be underappreciated. In March 2005, a dramatic increase in bloodstream infections was noted in multiple patient care units of a hospital in temporal association with the introduction of a needleless valve into use. Methods. Surveillance for primary bloodstream infection was conducted using standard methods throughout the hospital. Blood culture contamination rates were monitored. Cultures were performed using samples obtained from intravascular catheter connector valves. Results. The relative risk of bloodstream infection for the time period in which the suspect connector valve was in use, compared with baseline, was 2.79 (95% confidence interval, 2.27–3.43). In critical care units, the rate of primary bloodstream infection increased with the introduction of the valve from 3.87 infections per 1000 catheter-days to 10.64 infections per 1000 catheter-days (P < .001), and it decreased to 5.59 infections per 1000 catheter-days (P = .02) in the 6 months following removal of the device from use. Similarly, in inpatient nursing units, the rate of bloodstream infection increased from 3.47 infections per 1000 catheter-days to 7.3 infections per 1000 catheter-days (P = .02) following introduction of the device, and it decreased to 2.88 infections per 1000 catheter-days (P = .57) following removal of the device from use. Similar events occurred in the cooperative care units. The rate of blood culture contamination did not substantially change over the course of the study. Of 37 valves that were subjected to microbiological sample testing, 24.3% yielded microbes, predominantly coagulase-negative staphylococci. Conclusion. A significant association between primary bloodstream infection and a needleless connector valve was observed. Evaluation of needleless connector valves should include a thorough assessment of infection risks in prospective randomized trials prior to their introduction to the market.
Abstract Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis in conjunction with the direct formic acid (FA) sample processing method was evaluated ...for the ability to differentiate the closely related species of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis . The results showed that MALDI-TOF-MS, using the direct FA method, was reliable to differentiate between these species.
Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 is the second most common cause of severe diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome worldwide. The implementation of whole genome sequencing (WGS) ...enhances the detection and in-depth characterization of these non-O157 STEC strains. The aim of this study was to compare WGS to phenotypic serotyping and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for characterization of STECO26 strains following a zoonotic outbreak from cattle to humans.
This study evaluated seven E. coli strains; two strains isolated from two children with gastrointestinal symptoms and five strains from five calves suspected as the source of infection. Six of these isolates were serotyped phenotypically and by WGS as E. coli O26:H11 while one bovine isolate could be serotyped only by WGS as E. coli O182:H25. Stx1 was detected in two human- and two bovine-isolates using PCR and WGS. Using WGS, all four STECO26 isolates belong to sequence type (ST) 21 while the two stx1 negative E. coli O26 were ST29. All four STECO26 isolates were indistinguishable by PFGE. However, the data generated by WGS linked the two human STECO26 isolates to only one bovine STECO26 strain by having identical high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (hqSNPs) and identical virulence factor profiles while the remaining bovine STECO26 isolate differed by 7 hqSNPs and lacked virulence factor toxB.
These data demonstrated that WGS provided significant information beyond traditional epidemiological tools allowing for comprehensive characterization of the STEC. Using this approach, WGS was able to identify the specific source of infection in this study.
Tests in short supply? Try group testing Bilder, Christopher R.; Iwen, Peter C.; Abdalhamid, Baha ...
Significance (Oxford, England),
June 2020, Letnik:
17, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Christopher R. Bilder, Peter C. Iwen, Baha Abdalhamid, Joshua M. Tebbs and Christopher S. McMahan explain how, by pooling specimens, testing capacity for SARS‐CoV‐2 can be increased
Christopher R. ...Bilder, Peter C. Iwen, Baha Abdalhamid, Joshua M. Tebbs and Christopher S. McMahan explain how, by pooling specimens, testing capacity for SARS‐CoV‐2 can be increased.
Salmonella enterica, represented by a large number of serotypes, can cause a broad variety of diseases that range from mild gastroenteritis to severe systemic infections. This report provides a draft ...genome sequence of an mcr-9-carrying Salmonella enterica serotype Heidelberg strain isolated from blood.
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